Groups Defend Florida’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban

A coalition of groups supporting Florida's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage want a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to overturn that ban.

The groups say the lawsuit threatens to violate the rights of the Florida voters who approved the ban by a wide margin in November 2008. They're holding a news conference Friday morning to discuss their plans to fight the lawsuit.

The ban passed with 62 percent of the vote.

The lawsuit was filed in January in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court by six gay couples who say the state ban violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of equal protection and due process.

Judges have struck down same-sex marriage bans in other states.

Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.